Operator News
US – William Hill to open US’ first in-venue sports book at Capital One Arena
By Phil - 3 October 2019
William Hill US and Monumental Sports & Entertainment, owners of the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, and Washington Mystics, will launch the first in-venue sports book in the US at Capital One Arena.
William Hill will also become the exclusive sports betting partner of the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, Washington Mystics and Monumental Sports & Entertainment.
“Monumental is dedicated to bringing the latest technology and innovation into our arena and delivering extraordinary experiences to our fans. We are excited to partner with William Hill, the industry leader in sports betting, to become the first professional sports arena in the US to feature a sportsbook,” said Ted Leonsis, chairman, founder, principal partner and CEO, Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “Through this partnership, we are thrilled to enhance the fan experience with innovative gaming opportunities and transformational dining and culinary options not just on event days, but year-round. Our partnership with William Hill compliments our vision of making our arena the premier sports and entertainment destination in Washington, D.C.”
“This sports book will be a flagship venue for the industry and will serve the sports fans of the Washington D.C. area unlike any other,” said Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill US. “Partnering with Ted Leonsis and the entire Monumental team was ideal. They share our vision and principles for bringing innovative sports betting opportunities to fans in a responsible way. This deal sets a new benchmark for how the industry will serve fans and how fans engage in sports.”
The sports book will be operated by William Hill, with a full-service food and beverage offering, complemented by all of the premium sports betting facilities that are synonymous with the brand. The book, which will span multiple floors, will be open daily, year-round, and accessible to the public from F Street. During game days and certain in-arena events, ticketed and non-ticketed fans will have access to the sports book. The sports book also will be open on non-event days. Sports fans of legal age will also have the option to wager on a William Hill mobile app inside the arena, as permitted by the Washington D.C. regulations.
Construction to transform the space into a sports book is expected to begin pending regulatory approvals. The sports book is expected to become a year-round hub of activity for sports fans in the Washington, DC area. Fans will have the opportunity to come together to watch games, even when they aren’t live in the arena. For major events, there is the opportunity to turn the arena bowl into a 20,000-seat TV viewing area.
Powered by a heritage that dates back to 1934, William Hill established its U.S. presence in Las Vegas in 2012 and has grown to become America’s leading sports book operator by differentiating itself from the industry as an innovative pioneer in sports and sports betting. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that overturned PASPA in 2018, William Hill has led United States expansion of sports betting and now has operations in 10 states. The company currently accepts one out of every four sports bets placed in the US.
